Schumer’s Civil Rights Record Questioned!
Filed in: Campaign News
February, 2010
No Joke: Comedian-Activist Running Against Schumer (AP)
Valerie Bauman, ASSOCIATED PRESS
ALBANY, N.Y
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February 7, 2010 Sunday
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer has represented New York state for more than a decade with little serious opposition, but a funny thing happened on the way to Election Day this year: He picked up a challenge from a comedian activist.
Randy Credico’s race against the formidable incumbent is already drawing celebrity intrigue, with “Seinfeld” co-creator Larry David offering support for his fellow comic.
“I thought he was joking,” David said. “Charles Schumer is not going to be that comfortable with this. It’s not a stunt.”
CELEBRITY SUPPORT
Credico has also had support from comic actor Charles Grodin, and “Land of the Lost” co-creator Marty Krofft. Credico hopes to take on Schumer in a primary for the Democratic line, but he’s also talking to officials in the Libertarian party.
He wouldn’t be the first comic in the Senate: “Saturday Night Live” alumnus Al Franken, a Democrat, is the junior senator from Minnesota.
“He just believes in his own principles,” said Krofft, creator of shows including “H.R. Pufnstuf.” “If he would win, he would do great, because he has a great sense of humor and does impersonations of every big politician in the country. Randy Credico could do a debate with Schumer without Schumer being there.”
The senator from Brooklyn is a policy wonk, known for his dark suits, serious demeanor and news conferences. Schumer prides himself on visiting all 62 N.Y. counties every year and is seen as one of the hardest-working politicians in Washington and very media-savvy.
Credico is a recovered cocaine addict who mines his drug years for jokes. He’s an impressionist and a political activist with a shaky grasp on the present, so what he says is more stream of consciousness than gospel.
That’s why he’s running. He’s trying to finish his memoir but has years of blank periods from drug use. He figures, what better way to get dirt dredged up on you than run for office?
“If I get close to winning this thing, I’ll find out,” he joked.
DRUG PLATFORM
He’s spoken out for years against what had been long, mandatory sentences of New York state’s drug laws and has pushed for clemency for men and women who he believes have been harshly sentenced or falsely accused of crimes.
“I just think he’s a tremendous person,” said Grodin, who helped Credico fight unjust imprisonments. “Would he be a better senator than Schumer? He’ll always tell the blunt truth. Now will that make him a better senator? I don’t know.”
Credico has a platform – he supports decriminalizing drugs and ending the drug war, opposes gun control, supports an immediate military pullout from Afghanistan and Iraq and a ban on torture. But mostly he’s about “Dump Schumer.”
Schumer, who declined to comment, is currently third in the Senate power hierarchy and could be the next Senate majority leader if Harry Reid isn’t re-elected. Credico said that grab for power has distracted the vice chairman of the Democratic Conference from working for New Yorkers.
“He’s more concerned about power than he is about empowering people in the state,” Credico said.
Credico is known in Albany for his stunts – he once dressed up as the ancient Greek philosopher Diogenes and attended a state Senate committee meeting saying he was looking for “one honest politician.”
Credico had a shot at comic stardom when he went on “The Tonight Show” in 1984, but he went against all of his friends’ advice and included an impersonation of Johnny Carson in his set. Between that and railing against U.S. foreign policy, the host didn’t give Credico his seal of approval – a wave over to the chair for an interview – and Credico’s career took a different turn.
TOUGH CHORE
Despite Credico’s schtick and voters hungry for something different as shown in January’s U.S. Senate win by a Mass. Republican, Schumer doesn’t have much to fear. First elected in 1998, Schumer won with 71 percent of the vote in his last election and has $19.3 million in campaign funds, records show. Credico has filed reports saying he has just $2,235 in his coffers, but says he’s raised about $20,000 plus $4,000 of his own money since the end of the last reporting period.
Filed in: Campaign News
New York Comedian May Seek Libertarian Nomination for U.S. Senate
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/02/09/new-york-comedian-may-seek-libertarian-nomination-for-u-s-senate/
February 9th, 2010
Randy Credico, a somewhat famous comedian, announced in January 2010 that he intends to run in the Democratic primary in New York for U.S. Senate, against incumbent Charles Schumer. He has more recently said that he may seek the Libertarian Party nomination for the same office. New York law would permit him to be the Libertarian nomination even if he ran in the Democratic primary and lost it. Here is a story about him from the Huffington Post. Here is his webpage. Thanks to Peter Gemma for this news.
Filed in: Campaign News
60 Spins Around the Sun (Credico Documentary)
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Helmed by “Saturday Night Live” alum Laura Kightlinger, this hourlong exposé chronicles — warts and all — the life of comedian turned activist Randy Credico, an up-and-coming funnyman whose candor tanked his career. But the end of his showbiz days didn’t stop him: He switched gears and became a mouthpiece for various causes, including the fight against New York’s draconian drug laws. Credico’s peers and ex-girlfriends weigh in with insights.
Starring: Randy Credico, Larry David
Director: Laura Kightlinger Genre: Documentary Format: DVD and streaming Language: English  Not rated. This movie has not been rated by the MPAA. |
Filed in: Comedy
Comedian Credico to Challenge Ground Chuck
http://mikeblake-myopinions.blogspot.com/2010/02/comedian-credico-to-challenge-ground.html
Judged New York’s 2009 ‘Blog of Distinction’
It could turn out to be an interesting race for US Senator. Nationally known comedian Randy Credico is going to challenge Chuck Schumer. Schumer is part of the problem. We might as well elect a comedian as Albany is currently a joke. Credico sounds determined in these clips. He says Schumer’s Sunday press conferences are nonsense. He also claims Schumer is a schrill for Wall St.
Sen. Schumer challenged by comedian, a former addict (AP)
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2010/02/sen_schumer_challenged_by_come.html
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer has represented New York state for more than a decade with little serious opposition, but a funny thing happened on the way to Election Day this year: He picked up a challenge from a comedian activist.
Randy Credico’s race against the formidable incumbent is already drawing celebrity intrigue, with “Seinfeld” co-creator Larry David offering support for his fellow comic.
“I thought he was joking,” David said. “Charles Schumer is not going to be that comfortable with this. … It’s not a stunt.”
Credico has also had support from comic actor Charles Grodin, and “Land of the Lost” co-creator Marty Krofft. Credico hopes to take on Schumer in a primary for the Democratic line, but he’s also talking to officials in the Libertarian party.
He wouldn’t be the first comic in the Senate: “Saturday Night Live” alumnus Al Franken, a Democrat, is the junior senator from Minnesota.
“He just believes in his own principles,” said Krofft, creator of shows including “H.R. Pufnstuf,” with his brother, Sid. “If he would win, he would do great, because he has a great sense of humor and does impersonations of every big politician in the country. Randy Credico could do a debate with Schumer without Schumer being there.”
The senator from Brooklyn is a policy wonk, known for his dark suits, serious demeanor and Sunday press conferences. Schumer prides himself on visiting all the state’s 62 counties every year and has been described as one of the hardest-working politicians in Washington — and one of the most media-savvy.
Credico is a recovered cocaine addict who mines his drug years for jokes. He’s an impressionist and a political activist with a shaky grasp on the present, so what he says is more stream of consciousness than gospel.
That’s why he’s running. He’s trying to finish his memoir but has years of blank periods from drug use. He figures, what better way to get dirt dredged up on you than run for office? “If I get close to winning this thing, I’ll find out,” he joked.
Despite Credico’s uncommon schtick, and voters hungry for something different as shown in January’s U.S. Senate win by a Republican in Massachusetts, Schumer doesn’t have much to fear. First elected in 1998, Schumer won with 71 percent of the vote in his last election and has $19.3 million in campaign funds at the ready, according to the latest campaign finance records. Credico has filed reports saying he has just $2,235 in his coffers, but he says he’s raised about $20,000 plus $4,000 of his own money since the end of the last reporting period.
Schumer is “a very strong candidate, and a very strong incumbent,” said Gerald Benjamin, a political scientist and former dean at SUNY New Paltz.
Credico said he doesn’t mind if Schumer doesn’t take him seriously because that will allow him to quietly build support.
“I think he would be more than a breath of fresh air,” David said. “He would be a tornado. Of fresh air.”
Credico said he doesn’t mind if Schumer doesn’t take him seriously because that will allow him to quietly build support.
“I think he would be more than a breath of fresh air,” David said. “He would be a tornado. Of fresh air.”
Filed in: Campaign News
Credico on Fox 40 WICZ TV
http://www.wicz.com/news/video.asp?video=2%2D6%2D10+schum%2Ewmv%2Eflv&zone=News
Filed in: Video
USA Today :Randy Credico, candidate for Senate
| http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=pressconnects&sParam=32735519.storyRandy Credico, candidate for Senate |
| Posted 2/6/2010 | | |
HOMETOWN: Pomona, Calif.
OFFICE RUNNING FOR: U.S. Senate for the state of New York.
CAREER: Currently on a leave of absence from political consulting. Worked for years as a standup comic, with regular appearances in Las Vegas. He is a political activist fighting New York state’s drug law sentencing guidelines. Former director of the William Moses Kunstler Fund for Racial Justice.
AGE: 55
FAMILY: Never married, no children.
RELIGION: None, but considers himself “a believer without a religion.”
EDUCATION: Mount San Antonio College in California, two years attended.
PLATFORM: Immediate military pull out of Afghanistan, Iraq; ending the drug war in the U.S. and abroad; repealing the Patriot Act; legalizing marijuana, among other things.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Filed in: Campaign News
Sen. Schumer challenged by comedian, a former addict (AP)
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2010/02/sen_schumer_challenged_by_come.html
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer has represented New York state for more than a decade with little serious opposition, but a funny thing happened on the way to Election Day this year: He picked up a challenge from a comedian activist.
Randy Credico’s race against the formidable incumbent is already drawing celebrity intrigue, with “Seinfeld” co-creator Larry David offering support for his fellow comic.
“I thought he was joking,” David said. “Charles Schumer is not going to be that comfortable with this. … It’s not a stunt.”
Credico has also had support from comic actor Charles Grodin, and “Land of the Lost” co-creator Marty Krofft. Credico hopes to take on Schumer in a primary for the Democratic line, but he’s also talking to officials in the Libertarian party.
He wouldn’t be the first comic in the Senate: “Saturday Night Live” alumnus Al Franken, a Democrat, is the junior senator from Minnesota.
“He just believes in his own principles,” said Krofft, creator of shows including “H.R. Pufnstuf,” with his brother, Sid. “If he would win, he would do great, because he has a great sense of humor and does impersonations of every big politician in the country. Randy Credico could do a debate with Schumer without Schumer being there.”
The senator from Brooklyn is a policy wonk, known for his dark suits, serious demeanor and Sunday press conferences. Schumer prides himself on visiting all the state’s 62 counties every year and has been described as one of the hardest-working politicians in Washington — and one of the most media-savvy.
Credico is a recovered cocaine addict who mines his drug years for jokes. He’s an impressionist and a political activist with a shaky grasp on the present, so what he says is more stream of consciousness than gospel.
That’s why he’s running. He’s trying to finish his memoir but has years of blank periods from drug use. He figures, what better way to get dirt dredged up on you than run for office? “If I get close to winning this thing, I’ll find out,” he joked.
Despite Credico’s uncommon schtick, and voters hungry for something different as shown in January’s U.S. Senate win by a Republican in Massachusetts, Schumer doesn’t have much to fear. First elected in 1998, Schumer won with 71 percent of the vote in his last election and has $19.3 million in campaign funds at the ready, according to the latest campaign finance records. Credico has filed reports saying he has just $2,235 in his coffers, but he says he’s raised about $20,000 plus $4,000 of his own money since the end of the last reporting period.
Schumer is “a very strong candidate, and a very strong incumbent,” said Gerald Benjamin, a political scientist and former dean at SUNY New Paltz.
Credico said he doesn’t mind if Schumer doesn’t take him seriously because that will allow him to quietly build support.
“I think he would be more than a breath of fresh air,” David said. “He would be a tornado. Of fresh air.”
Filed in: Campaign News
Sen. Schumer to Face Primary? (Credico video interview on WHAM 13)
http://www.13wham.com/content/blogs/story/Sen-Schumer-to-Face-Primary/GWTH9KAAhE-3j9zJNDrU7w.cspx
(see video)
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I’m attaching my entire interview with Randy Credico – as I do with most political candidates. I do this so you know as much as you can about them, not just what you see or hear in those brief couple minutes include in our newscast. To learn more about Credico you can visit his website here. Does he stand a chance at beating Senator Schumer? No, and he knows it. But whether you agree or disagree with his viewpoints, what I love about our democracy is that everyone gets a chance to speak their mind and run for a public office if they so choose. |
Filed in: Campaign News
Schumer Approval Below 50, A Nine-Year Low by Elizabeth Benjamin
The Daily Politics
by Elizabeth Benjamin
February 1, 2010 1:29 PM 2 Comments
Schumer Approval Below 50, A Nine-Year Low »
By Elizabeth Benjamin
US Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand isn’t the only one whose numbers are slipping.
The junior senator’s political champion and mentor, US Sen. Chuck Schumer, has seen his approval rating continue its downward slide, dropping below the all-important 50 percent mark for the first time since 2001, according to another Marist poll released today.
Forty-seven percent of New York voters statewide say Schumer is doing a “good” or “excellent” job, while 31 percent gave him a rating of “fair” and “17″ percent say he’s performing poorly.
In April 2001, 49 percent approved of the job Schumer was doing. This isn’t his all-time Marist low, however. That came in March 2000, when just 39 percent of voters statewide gave the senior senator good grades.
Schumer’s decline is most precipitous in New York City, where his approval rating has dropped from 57 percent to 51 percent in just two weeks.
“Senator Schumer is not immune from the anti-incumbent sentiment among voters, but it would take a major effort to unseat him,” said Marist pollster Lee Miringoff.
Schumer has come under fire of late from Harold Ford Jr., whom he tried to persuade – so far unsuccessfully, it seems – not to challenge Gillibrand in a primary.
So far, Schumer faces a longshot primary challenge from comedian and drug law activist Randy Credico.
More worrisome for Schumer, perhaps, is the recent news that Republicans and Conservatives are trying to draft supply-side economist and TV host Larry Kudlow into the race.
Kudlow recently met with state GOP Chairman Ed Cox and state Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long, who called Kudlow a “soul mate” and said he’s seriously considering a challenge to Schumer.
Filed in: Campaign News